Cops: Man accused of threatening to put kids in 'hot truck'

Arrest and booking photos are provided by law enforcement officials. Arrest does not imply guilt, and criminal charges are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted.

Gregory PrattTribune reporter

A Tinley Park man was charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly cursed out his two young children and threatened to lock them "in the hot truck" if they didn't "shut up," police said.

Orland Park police responded to Lumes Restaurant on 159th Street on June 30 after two women reported passing a table where a man, woman and two children were sitting, according to a police report.

As they walked near the table, the women heard the man, Mark Pawlak, 33, address the children with two separate profanities, police said.

One of the women confronted Pawlak about his language and tone toward the kids and said that he needed "to stop verbally abusing the children," police said.

Pawlak impolitely told her to mind her own business, using an enhanced version of "shut up," the woman told police.

He also used a profanity toward her, police said.

Interviewed by police, Pawlak said she "was making up the whole story," though he admitted swearing in the restaurant, but never at his children. The children were described in the report as being about 6 or 7 years old.

Police arrested Pawlak and charged him with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and contacted the Department of Children and Family Services. DCFS spokeswoman Karen Hawkins confirmed that the agency was contacted but said it is not investigating at this time.

Pawlak has a court date later this week.

Attempts to reach Pawlak by telephone today for comment were not successful.